Looking for a car and driver to for a pick up at Frankfurt Germany Airport....driving from there to Heidenheim (near Stutgart) and then dropping us off in Baden Baden. Out travel agency has only given us info that would cost about $1800. US dollars. Any suggestions on a more reasonable option for a car and driver? Thanks
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
OK, this question might not be appreciated, but I'll ask anyway... why, oh why are you trying to arrange for a private driver? This is an EXTREMELY expensive service in Germany, especially for long distance travel like you have planned. There are any number of considerably cheaper options. Such as... 1) Take the train. Frankfurt's airport has it's own long distance rail station. Depending on what time you arrive, you can buy advanced purchase tickets from the airport to Heidenheim an der Brenz for as little as €29. Even full fair second class tickets are only €74. The trip duration (including time to change trains) is anywhere from 3 to 3.5 hours. That's not much longer than you would expect driving, given the horrendous traffic around Stuttgart. Get all your informatioin on trains in Germany directly from the easy-to-use Deutsche Bahn website, not a travel agent or any other 3rd party website. 2) Rent a car and drive yourself. There's a few thing you would need to know about driving in Germany in advanced, but it's nothing too difficult that thousands of tourists from North America haven't successfully managed before. I would, however, not recommend driving on German roads while jet-lagged. Particularly around Frankfurt and Stuttgart. 3) Fly into Stuttgart and hire a driver from there. This will be expensive too, but nowhere near as hiring a driver from Frankfurt. (cont)
Posted by
Danville, VT
12040 posts
And I also mention this, just to see if you're aware. Germany has over a hundred officially designated spa resort towns, usually indicated by the presence of the word "Bad" somewhere in the name of the town. Despite Rick Steves' championing of Baden-Baden, I find it to be about in the middle of the pack. Not ugly, but not that special either, and a little too catered to Russian oligarch bling-bling tastes. If you want a spa treatment, there are other options much more convenient to Frankfurt and Stuttgart. If you just want to see Baden-Baden, prepare to be kind of underwhelmed for your efforts.
Posted by
OP
Yardley, Pennsylvan, USA
2 posts
Thank you for your insight and info!